System and Method for Data Card Emulation

• US 20120241519A1
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Lawson, Lance P., Miller, Marla, Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/083 inductive G06K7/10336 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10712 Fixed beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10762 Relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An improved system and method for data card emulation is provided that enables a single data card to emulate any one of multiple data cards. The data card includes an improved system and method for conveying data involving pulsed light that can read a barcode and can emulate a barcode. The improved system and method for conveying data may also include at least one of a magnetic stripe reader or a magnetic stripe emulator. The data card uses the improved system and method for conveying data to interface with conventional barcode and/or magnetic stripe readers, to interface with other such data cards or other devices having similar circuitry, and to interface with a data management system used to manage barcode and/or magnetic stripe information stored in a memory on the data card.

Claims

1. A method for conveying data card information, comprising:

associating at least one of a bar code reader or a magnetic stripe detector with a data conveyance device;

associating at least one of a bar code emulator or a magnetic stripe emulator with said data conveyance device;

obtaining a plurality of data card information sets, each data card information set of said plurality of data card information sets corresponding to a respective data card of a plurality of data cards, each data card of said plurality of data cards corresponding to a respective entity of a plurality of entities;

storing on said data conveyance device said plurality of data card information sets;

using at least one of said bar code reader or said magnetic stripe detector associated with said data conveyance device to identify a first entity of said plurality of entities; and

using at least one of said bar code emulator or said magnetic stripe emulator associated with said data conveyance device to convey a first data card information set corresponding to said first entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data conveyance device comprises at least one of a data card, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a watch, a keychain, a kiosk, a point-of-sale device, or a data management device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said data conveyance device is portable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data card information comprises at least one of an identifier for the entity, barcode information, magnetic stripe information, or a logo.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said data card information supports a transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said data card information was provided by a website.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said data card information was provided by a kiosk.

8. A system for conveying data card information, comprising:

a first data conveyance device comprising;

at least one of a first bar code reader or a first magnetic stripe detector for identifying an entity based on at least one bar code or magnetic stripe associated with the entity;

at least one of a first bar code emulator or a first magnetic stripe emulator for conveying a first data card information set corresponding to a data card corresponding to said entity; and

a memory for storing a plurality of data card information sets of a plurality of data cards corresponding to a plurality of entities; and

a second data conveyance device comprising;

at least one of a second bar code reader or a second magnetic stripe detector for receiving said first data card information set.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein one of said first data conveyance device or said second data conveyance device is incorporated with at least one of a data card, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a watch, a keychain, a kiosk, a point-of-sale device, or a data management device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first data conveyance device comprises at least one of a first memory, a first battery, a first switch, a first light waveguide, a first status indicator, or a first display.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said first data conveyance device comprises a first pulsed light transceiver and said second conveyance device comprises a second pulsed light transceiver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first pulsed light transceiver and said second pulsed light transceiver are configured to convey information using on-off-keying.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said first pulsed light transceiver comprises at least one light emitting diode.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said first pulsed light transceiver comprises an ambient light source.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said second pulsed light transceiver comprises at least one light emitting diode.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said first data conveyance device comprises a first magnetic field transceiver and said second conveyance device comprises a second magnetic field transceiver.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein said first data conveyance device comprises:

a first light conduit having a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end opposite said first end, and a side opening between said first opening and said second opening;

a first light source, said first light source configured for outputting a first light that initially enters said first light conduit through said side opening, reflects off said first light conduit, and exits said first light conduit through said first opening;

a first detector for detecting a second light exiting said second opening; and

a first processor interfaced with said first detector, said first processor configured for conveying data based on at least one of said first light or said second light.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said second data conveyance device comprises:

a second light source, said second light source configured for outputting said second light, said second light initially entering said first light conduit through said first opening and exiting said first light conduit through said second opening;

a second detector for detecting said first light after having exited said first light conduit through said first opening; and

a second processor interfaced with said second light source and said second detector, said second processor configured for conveying data based on at least one of said first light or said second light.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said second light source is configure for outputting said second light that initially enters said second light conduit through a side opening in said second light conduit.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein said second data conveyance device comprises at least one of a second memory, a second battery, a second switch, a second light waveguide, a second status indicator, or a second display.